Experience the Best of Echeta!

This Experience was narrated by Jean Claude Niyomugabo (@jcniyomuagbo) on X at 27, December 2024.

Let me tell you about the time I lost my job after just 4 months in 2018.

I had just been hired by a local NGO, and my boss, a charming lady named Sarah, was from USA. Now, Sarah was not just a boss; she was a "support system," helping me pay bills and even sending money home to my parents.

It didn’t take long for Sarah to take a liking to me. She’d often tell the team, "This man is a go-getter, he’s got that drive we need!".

She even started calling me "her best investment" and sometimes joked that I was "the future of the organization."

I felt like I was winning at life. One day, Sarah invited me to dinner after work. She said, "You know young man, you’ve really impressed me—keep it up!".

I said, "It’s all thanks to my parents and Jesus!". I could see her smile, and it made me feel like I was finally going places.

By the end of the third month, I thought things were going great. Sarah started asking me about my future plans and where I saw myself.

I confidently told her, “I’m heading straight to the top, and soon my parents won’t need to worry about anything!".

She agreed, saying, "We’ll get you there." On a Friday, Sarah called me in the morning, inviting me over for dinner.

She was going to be late because of a meeting, but she handed me the keys to her house and said, “Make yourself comfortable.

It’s yours too!” . I was thrilled! . I thought to myself, "This is it.

I’m practically family now."… I arrived at Sarah’s place around 2 pm, feeling like I had crossed into the next level of adulthood.

As I walked through the front door, the neighbors looked at me, probably wondering who this guy was letting himself into the house.

But I didn’t care—soon I’d be living the American dream! Sarah’s house was a cozy, upscale apartment. The walls were covered in various art pieces, and a framed photo of her family stood on the table. To my surprise, I saw a picture of my own parents hanging among them.

I waved at it like a true son-in-law in training. After grabbing a drink, I decided to make myself useful.

Sarah had told me to take charge, so I started cleaning up—dusting frames and wiping away cobwebs.

I wanted to show her I was not only job material, but husband material too 😂.

Then, I spotted it—a snake! A giant, slithery thing coiled around a picture frame on the wall.

I did what any man would do: I grabbed a broom, gently (but firmly) nudged it outside, and went back to cleaning. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, right?😂…. Three hours later, Sarah pulled into the driveway. She was amazed at how clean the house was. “young man, you’re a miracle worker!” she exclaimed.

I played it cool, acting like it was nothing, but inside I was grinning. I was on my way to the top! Dinner was fantastic, and we followed it up with a movie.

Everything felt like it was going according to plan. But then, in the middle of the movie, Sarah froze and shouted, “I can’t find Leo! .

Where’s Leo?” I panicked, thinking, “Who in the world is Leo?”.

Leo? Who’s that?” I asked, utterly confused. She sprang up, frantically flipping over the cushions and calling, “Leo, where are you?”.

I was completely lost. Then it hit me—Leo was the snake I had carelessly thrown outside earlier.

My stomach dropped. I tried to stay composed. “Babe, I think there’s been a mix-up,” I said, attempting to defuse the situation.

“Leo… uh, was just a regular snake.” Sarah stared at me, horrified.

“How could you throw out such a precious, harmless creature?” she gasped.

I tried to justify myself. “In my village, we handle snakes like that.

You told me to take charge!” She didn’t care. By the end of the night, I was no longer the future of the organization.

The next Monday, I got my termination letter. Apparently, animal cruelty wasn’t part of their brand.

But wait—Leo came back! She had returned with a few missing scales, courtesy of a hungry bird.

The worst part? My American dream was snatched away before I could even get comfortable.

Now, every snake I meet feels like a reminder of my lost dreams.

End!

Was I in the wrong for handling things the way I did?

Let me know your thoughts—should I have handled the situation differently or was I just a victim of circumstances?